Another Battery Question

[Meanjean73]

I’ll go check but there is no factory bus bar? Any suggestions on one from Amazon?

 

[BryanValRox]

I’ll go check but there is no factory bus bar? Any suggestions on one from Amazon?

We have a 2024 310 RL as well.
There is definitely a buss bar, you will have to remove the side panel in the battery compartment to view it.

 

[Oregon_Camper]

I’ll go check but there is no factory bus bar? Any suggestions on one from Amazon?

Here is a 250 amp version

Here is a 400 amp version

Both of these are 5/16 lugs...confirm that will fit your system (it should) before buying

 

[Meanjean73]

Got home and added the batteries. The RV has two different factory buss bars. I assume one is solar and one is for the rv? I also have the two inverter leads. So the ideal way is to have all battery leads going to a new buss bar, then to factory buss bars?

 

[Oregon_Camper]

Got home and added the batteries. The RV has two different factory buss bars. I assume one is solar and one is for the rv? I also have the two inverter leads. So the ideal way is to have all battery leads going to a new buss bar, then to factory buss bars?

Can you post picture of the current busbars?

 

[Meanjean73]

Maybe the bottom one is a direct power to the hydraulic system?

 

[UFF]

I had a question in this area. I sent Alliance a photo and this is what I got back. Not saying yours is the same.

 

[Meanjean73]

The bottom bus bar/fuse on mine doesn’t go through the batter switch. It’s directly to the battery. If that’s the case the converter is always connected.

 

[Meanjean73]

As Bryan said...put the solar on the busbar vs directly to battery.

It didn’t blow up or catch fire, must have done something right. Only question is; the inline 20 amp fuse I put in between the battery (buss bar) and the charge controller. This is to protect the controller and not the battery right?

Oh yeah, ignore the battery post cap colors in the picture, I switched them to the correct location. Didn’t even notice till I looked at the picture. Hopefully that’s the only mistake.

 

[BryanValRox]

It didn’t blow up or catch fire, must have done something right. Only question is; the inline 20 amp fuse I put in between the battery (buss bar) and the charge controller. This is to protect the controller and not the battery right?

Oh yeah, ignore the battery post cap colors in the picture, I switched them to the correct location. Didn’t even notice till I looked at the picture. Hopefully that’s the only mistake.

Is the fuse that your referring to located at the buss bar in your picture? If it is, I would counsel that it is not the properly placed.
Fuses can only protect when they have high current flow thru them. So placement matters!
Fuses are intended to protect the wiring. So in your case, what is it your trying to protect? I assume the 12 volt output from the solar controller to the batteries.

If this is the case, the fuse should be placed as close to the Solar Controller as possible to provide protection to the wire between the controller and the battery.

Edited, I might be mis understanding your intent without a broader view.

 

[Meanjean73]

Is the fuse that your referring to located at the buss bar in your picture? If it is, I would counsel that it is not the properly placed.
Fuses can only protect when they have high current flow thru them. So placement matters!
Fuses are intended to protect the wiring. So in your case, what is it your trying to protect? I assume the 12 volt output from the solar controller to the batteries.

If this is the case, the fuse should be placed as close to the Solar Controller as possible to provide protection to the wire between the controller and the battery.

Edited, I might be mis understanding your intent without a broader view.

 

[BryanValRox]

Ok, so that is a circuit breaker(not a fuse, terminology I know) and would agree that it is protecting the wire between it and the buss bar.(the copper buss bar)

 

[Meanjean73]

Ok, so that is a circuit breaker(not a fuse, terminology I know) and would agree that it is protecting the wire between it and the buss bar.(the copper buss bar)

Sorry. My mistake.

 

[BryanValRox]

Sorry. My mistake.

No worries at all, we are all friends here just trying to help each other.
Apologies that I didn’t fully understand your project before offering my comments, The comments are generally accurate.

 

[Meanjean73]

No worries at all, we are all friends here just trying to help each other.
Apologies that I didn’t fully understand your project before offering my comments, The comments are generally accurate.

I was just trying to make sure I understood the need for a circuit breaker in that location if there is a fuse on the bus bar? I was told by others here it should be used. My confusion was trying to understand what the breaker protects? The battery or the fuse on the bus bar/controller.

 

[BryanValRox]

I was just trying to make sure I understood the need for a circuit breaker in that location if there is a fuse on the bus bar? I was told by others here it should be used. My confusion was trying to understand what the breaker protects? The battery or the fuse on the bus bar/controller.

So, just to be clear. The circuit breaker you have circled in your picture is really only protecting the short run of wire between it and your 2 row copper buss. The branch circuits coming off the buss are being protected by their individual self resetting breakers.

 

[Meanjean73]

So, just to be clear. The circuit breaker you have circled in your picture is really only protecting the short run of wire between it and your 2 row copper buss. The branch circuits coming off the buss are being protected by their individual self resetting breakers.

So probably not needed?

 

[BryanValRox]

So probably not needed?

Well, that is entirely up to you.
I am not sure what ratings the individual branch circuits are and what they feed.
Additionally, I am unsure what gauge wire you have feeding and exiting the breaker.
Based on a visual assessment of the wire gauge it is likely rated at more than the 20 amp rating of the breaker.
So, depending on the Sum of both branch circuits and if they would be loaded at the same time, it would be possible to trip your new breaker if the sum of the two is more than the rating of your new breaker.